Half to benjamin b



(No Model.)

J. J. HINPHEY.

GOUPLING Foe ELECTRIC WIRES.

No. 437,116. Patented Sept. 23, 1890.

W/TNESSES.' INVENTOH @fame/ MW AYTOHNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES J. HINPHEY, OF BOUND BROOK, NEI/V JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TOBENJAMIN B. MATTHEWS, OF SAME PLACE.

COUPLING FOR ELECTRIC WIRES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 437,116, datedSeptember 23, 1890. Application led March 5, 1890. Serial No. 342,728.(No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES J. I'IINPHEY, of Bound Brook, in the county ofSomerset and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and usefulCoupling for Electric Conductor-Wires, of which the following is a full,clear, and eX- act description.

My invention relates to improvements in couplings for electricalconductors, and particularly to such as are employed to detachablyconnect conductor -wires that extend through a train of cars, to furnishmeans for transmission of signals from any car of the train to theengineer or other party at a different point on the train.

In transmission of signals from the cars of a train tothe engineer onthe locomotive, an electric signal-bell is placed upon the engine, andconductor-wires are led ytherefrom rearward through all of the cars.Usually these conductor-wires are unconnected, and as this leaves thecircuit open signals given in accordance with a prearranged code may betransmitted from any car bya make and break of the circuit on said car,a simple and efficient key being usually employed to close the circuitat the desired point, and by its manipulation convey the proper signalsto the engineer. One of the first essentials for the transmission ofsignals in the manner indicated is to provide means for the attachmentof wires between the several cars of a train in a way that will permittwo independent lines to be rendered intact, and also to transmit asignal distinct from the ordinary signals when the train is brokenaccidentally or by design, so that the engineer will become aware of therupture of the train.

Heretofore the provision for signaling an accidental break of the trainand consequent detachment of the signal-wires vat the point of rupture,did not signal to the engineer in a manner to insure attention, andconsequently was defective in service.

The objects of this invention are to provide a simple and reliable meansfor the speedy connection of the electric conductors used fortrain-signaling or other purposes of like nature, which will permit thewires to be disconnected between two cars of a train, and, further, toalford an automatic circuit-closer at their points of connection,whereby a continu- Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings,forming a part of this specification,

in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts inall the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete coupling in connectedadjustment, whereby two independent lines of electricconductor wires arerendered intact, the end portions of said wires being shown attached tothe coupling-blocks. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal section of the coupling inclosed adjustment of the coupling-blocks, taken on the line 2 2 in Fig.1, the conductor-wires being insulated from each other; and Fig. 3 is a1ongitudinal vertical section of one couplingblock, adjusted to closethe circuit by establisment of electrical connection betweenconductor-wires which lead to an electric signalbell.

Any suitable electric signaling device may be employed which willoperate to sound an alarm continuously when the circuit is closed-as,for instance, a magneto call-bell may be utilized-and in the matter ofsignaling from any car on the train, it is not necessary toparticularize any special device for such a purpose, as this is not afeature of the present invention, it being understood that the preferreduse of the coupling is to afford a reliable adjunct to such a device.

In the drawings, A A represent couplingblocks which are of similar form,and as the parts that are combined with each of said blocks are alike itwill only be necessary to describe those that are provided for onehalfsection of the complete coupling device.

The block A is made of any suitable metal which is a good conductor ofelectricity. In

form it is preferably made rectangular and suitably elongated, thecorners being cut away 1 oo at each end to form blunt wedges, thusavoiding sharp corners that would be obj ectionable in handling theblocks to make connections.

Upon one side the block A is cut. away for a portion of its length,leaving a thinner portion with substantially parallel sides. Theshoulder at a, wh ere the reduction of the block terminates, is cut intoV-'form for the accommodation of other parts that may engage the notchedwall of the block, as will presently be explained.

Upon the portion l) of the block A, which is left of full thickness, aninsulating-slab B is secured by clamping it thereon. To effect this, andalso to furnish a complementary piece for the block A, the metalconductorplate C is superimposed upon the insulatingslab B, both theslab and conductor-plate being lirmly attached to the block A by a screwc, that is made of non-conducting materialsuch as hard rubber-theinsulating-slab l5 being preferably constructed of like material.

The form of the slab B and conductor-plate C, considered edgewise, isthe same as that given to the block A, the insulatingslab being of anequal thickness throughout its area.

The metal conductor-plate C is of such a proportionate thickness thatwhen combined with the insulating-slab B both will fit loosely betweenthe block A and insulating-slab of a mating coupling-section, as shownin Fig. 2, there being a slot e produced bythe combination of parts,which is more plainly exhibited in Fig.

Each block A of the mating coupling-sections is perforated at about thecenter of length and width of the reduced portion produced on theblocks, said perforations being formed transversely in the blocks of asuitable depth and diameter to receive the cylindrical plugs f, whichare made to slide freely therein.

The socket-perforationsin the blocks A are extended nearly through saidblocks, and from their bottom surface smaller holes are drilled throughthe remainingr material concentric with the sockets, these smallorifices being designed to receive reduced extensions f of the plugf,which project outside of the blocks a proper distance. Opposite thesocketholes in the blocks A, aligning pcrforations are made through theinsulating-slabs B, so that the ends of the plugs f may be projectedthrough these holes in the insulating-slabs and have electrical contactwith the conductor-plates C, as will be further explained. Upon thereduced portions or shanks f of the plugs f spiral springs g are placed,which, when introduced within the socket-holes of the blocks A alongwith the plugs, will, by their expansive force, normally project theplugs across the slots c through the orifices in the insulating-slabs Band enforce a contact of the plug ends with the conductorplates C. Theouter ends of the shanks f are flattened and transversely perforated forpivotal engagement with the rocking levers 7L that are pivoted upon theposts L, said levers having thumb-pieces h2 formed on their free ends,whereby the plugs f may be withdrawn from their position across theslots e when the two sections of the coupling are to be slid togetherendwise, and thus connect the wires of the signaling device.

Upon the ends of the blocks A and conductor-plates C, which are nearestto the clamping-screws c, L-shaped bracket-plates i are allixcd byscrews or other mcans,and are perforated to adapt them for attachment tothe conductor-wires m `a that are inserted in the holes in theprojecting lian ges of the braeket-plates and tightly twisted, so as toform a proper contact electrically and a substantial connectionmechanically. If preferred, binding-posts of the usual form may besubstituted for the plates z'.

In operation the sections of the coupling are adjusted together, asshown in Figs. l and 2. The plu gs f, being held forcibly against theconductor-plates C,bind the parts together with sufficient stability toinsure a reliable connection under ordinary conditions of use. If,however, there should be a separation of two cars in a train which isprovided with a signaling device and couplings for conductorwires of theconstruction herein described, the two coupling-sections will beseparated without injury to either of them or the wires attachedthereto.

It will be seen that the lines of conductorwires m n are renderedcontinuous by the construction of the coupling device and insulated fromeach other while the sections are in connection.

When a separation of the sections is produced simultaneously with thedetachment of cars in a train, the force of the spiral springs g willproject the ends of the contact-plugsf, so that these will bear upon theconductorplates C, which will electrically connect the wires m n on thecar or cars of a train that are still attached to the engine, so that byan establishment of a closed circuit the signaling device on the engineor forward portion of the train will ring continuously and notify theengineer of the rupture of the train.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-` l. The combination, with a metallicblock, which is an electric conductor, having a portion of its bodyreduced on one side to form an offset, an insulating-slab imposed. uponthe thick portion of the block, an electric conductoi-plate on saidinsulating-slab, a longitudinal slot intervening said block and slab,and means for securing said block, plate, and slab together, of aspring-actuated plug adapted to electrically connect the block andeonductor-plate when said slot is open, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a metallic block, which is an electricalconductor, having one side reduced longitudinally to produce an off IOOIIo

IIS

set on it, an insulating-slab imposed upon the thick portion of theblock, an electrical conductor-plate on said slab, and a non-conductingscrew connecting said block, plate, and Slab together, of two lineconductor-wires, one attached to the block and the other to the plateand insulated from each other, anda spring-actuated plug adapted to forman electrical connection between the block and conductor-plate when notrestrained, substantially as set forth.

3. The combinatiomwith a coupling-section -for electric conductor-wires,consisting of a block, a perforated insulator-slab, aconductorplate, anon-conducting screw, a spring-actuated plug adapted to form anelectrical connection between the block and plate, and two terminals ofseparate line-wires, of a mating sectionhavingterminalsofline-wiresattaehed thereto, each joined electrically with acorrespondin g Wire on the first-named section when saidcoupling-sections are connected, whereby a normally-open circuit isclosed by the springactuated plugs when the coupling-sections areseparated, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with a metallic block having one side reduced inthickness, an insulating-slab on said block, a conductor-plate incontact with the insulating-slab, and a non` conducting screw holdingsaid block, slab, and plate aligned and connected, ofa contact-plu gadapted to reciprocate in a socket-hole formed in the metal block, aspiral spring pressing upon the plug to project it inwardly, a pivotedlever adapted to move the plug, and line-wires secured at their terminalends, one wire to the block and the other to the conductor-plate,substantially as set forth.

JAMES J. HINPHEY.

/Vitnesses:

J As. A. OLAHAN, MONTFORT MATTHEWS.

